Envelop-fastener.



N. WERTS.

ENVELOP PASTBNER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a, 1911,

1,0505582, l Patented Jan. 14; 1913. g1 f NELSON WERTS, 0F ST. MARYS, OHIO.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14,1913.

Application led May 18, 1911. Serial No. 628,056.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, NELSON WEETs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Auglaize, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to envelop fasteners and the object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple device of this character which will prevent the opening.

of the envelop without destroying the seal. thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fastener in which the parts can be constructed of sheet metal or wire and which comprises a fastening tongue attached to the flap of the envelop in a novel manner and adapted to engage a keeper secured to the body of the envelop in a novel manner.

A still further 'object is to provide a device of this character which may also be applied to boxes and the like and which will serve t'o insure safety in the delivery thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain other combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being a still further object to provide a device which will not be likely to get out of working order.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view of an envelop with my improved fastener in its preferred embodiment applied thereto and with the flap extended. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the fastener removed from the envelop and in an engaged position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the keeper plate to more especially show its attaching means. Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form lof fastener, with a sheet metal securing tongue. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a securing tongue formed of wire.

Referring to the drawings in det-ail and in Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown an envelop 10 having the usual closing fla-p 11 provided with an adhesive covering 12 by which the envelop is sealed.

In order to prevent opening of the envelop without destroying the seal, I provide a plate 13 of sheet metal and which is comparatively long and narrow and which is provided with beveled corners 14 to prevent the same from causing injury by reason of sharp corners excepting when attempting to open the envelop. Said plate is extended lengthwise of the envelop. In order to secure the plate to the outside of the Hap. 11, it is provided with tongues 15 formed by striking out po-rtions of the metal as shown at 1G and bending the same inwardly to extend through transverse openings 17 in a securing plate 18. This pla-te 18 also has its corners beveled as shown at 14 and the openings 17 are in line with the tongues which when extended therethrough after piercing the fiap are turned outwardly as shown at 19 in contact with the plate 18. .A keeper plate 20 formed in a similar manner as the plate 13 is secured to the back of the envelop body upon its outer surface by a plate 21 which is also formed in a similar manner asthe plate 18 and serves to secure the keeperplate 2() in position for engagement by alsecuring tongue 22 which is disposed beneath the plate 18 and has a rebent end 23 frictionally contacting with the outer face of said plate to dispose the tongue over the adhesive covering of the flap. The free end of the tongue is rebent in an opposite vdirection from the portion 23 as shown at 24 so that when the iiap is closed down and sealed, said portion 24 will engage the lower edge of the plate 2O and between the latter plate and the back of the envelop and plate 21 thereby efficiently serving to prevent opening of the envelop without breaking the seal.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown the fastener formed of wire with the excep- `-tifon o-f the tongue and in this instance, a short section ofwire 25 has its ends extended. through the flap of the envelop or of a box if desired so as to provide inwardly projecting portions V26 adapted to be engaged by eyes 27 formed at the ends of a securing member 28 inwardly of the flap and which is also formed of wire. A short section of wire 29 is secured upon the inner side of the back of the envelop or box over which the flap extends t0 form projecting portions 30 similar to the portions 26 and a keeper 31. formed in a similar manner as the portion 28 is secured thereto for engagement by the tapered hook extremity 32 or rebent portion at the free end of the tongue 33. This tongue is also rebent as shown at 34 to engage the securing member 28 and when the flap is folded, the rebent portion 32 engages beneath the keeper 3l to secure the same in position or if desired a single section of wire 35 having rebent ends 36 and 87 may be employed instead of the tongue 33, thereby permitting this fastener to be constructed wholly of wire.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel form of fastener which will efliciently serve the purpose intended and in carrying out the use of the invention it is desirable that when an envelop or a box is to be delivered, it be numbered and recorded by the postal authorities, thereby further insuring safe delivery. 'Ihe fastener may be formed of a few simple part-s, either of wire or sheet metal and will thus prove economical in the manufacture.

I claim l. An envelop fastener comprising a member having intermediate portions extending through the flap of the envelop from the outside, a securing member engaged by said portions at the inside of said flap, a keeper similarly attached to the body of the envelop and a tongue having its ends rebent toward a common side and engaged between the securing member and flap and beneath the keeper respectively, whereby the iap will cover the same when closed.

2. A fastener for receptacles having a Hap and body portion, comprising a section of metal having portions thereof projecting through the Hap toward its inner side and extending outwardly, a securing member of less length than said section and having openings engaged by said projecting portions for Contact with the inner face thereof to retain the same in position, similar sections secured tothe body, the rojecting portions extending inwardly of the body for holding the securing member and a metallic tongue having rebent ends located in a common plane, one end being extended beneath the securing member of the flap and frictionally engaging one edge thereof to extend over its sealing portion for frictional engagement of the other end beneath the keeper carried by the body When the flap is sealed.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON WERTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedY for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

